World Cup is often defined by incredible individual performances, and we shouldn't expect this summer to be any 48-team World Cup will feature plenty of stars, and many more will emerge. But these are 10 players who we expect to take top billing.2026 FIFA World Cup: How To WatchThe World Cup will run from June 11July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX and FS1 with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports apps. A record 40 matches, more than one-third of the tournament, will air in prime time across FOX and FS1.Lamine Yamal, Forward, SpainAge: 18Club: Barcelona Out of all the stars that will light up soccer's grandest stage this summer, perhaps there's no more intriguing or exciting player than the 18-year-old Spanish winger. It's Yamal's first World Cup and he has a chance to score a lot of goals and help La Roja win it all. Laken LitmanCristiano Ronaldo, Striker, PortugalAge: 41Club: Al-Nassr FC This has to be Ronaldo's last World Cup https://www.canadafanstore.com/sitemap.xml, right? We thought maybe the 2022 tournament in Qatar would be, but then he walked off the field in tears following Portugal's quarterfinal loss to Morocco. So here we are: the 41-year-old superstar forward has already won everything he possibly can in this sport, except a World Cup trophy, and that's his goal this summer. LitmanKylian Mbapp, Striker, FranceAge: 27Club: Real Madrid. Mbapp scored a hat trick in the 2022 World Cup final and France still lost to Leo Messi and Argentina in the most epic finish. Mbapp already has a World Cup trophy, winning it all in 2018, butLes Bleus' captain is hungry and motivated for another. LitmanOusmane Dembl, Forward, FranceAge: 28Club: Paris Saint-Germain 2025 was a big year for Dembl. The 28-year-old forward won a Champions League title with PSG and then took home theBallon d'Or as the world's best player. While he has a World Cup trophy on his resume, like Mbappe, he wants another after coming so close four years ago in Qatar. LitmanErling Haaland, Striker, NorwayAge: 25Club: Manchester CityDespite his goal-scoring prowess and overall domination in the Premier League, we've never seen Haaland in an environment like the one he'll be in this summer. The 2026 World Cup will not only be Haaland's debut World Cup, but his first-ever major tournament. How far he'll take Norway will be one of the more interesting storylines to follow. LitmanLionel Messi, Forward https://www.canadafanstore.com/collections/marcelo-flores-jersey, ArgentinaAge: 38Club: Inter Miami CF The GOAT hasn't yet confirmed that he'll lead Argentina's World Cup title defense in the country he now plays his club soccer, but let's be real: Although he'll turn 39 three days before the Albicleleste's group stage finale against Jordan in Arlington, Texas, Messi will be there. Barring serious injury, there's no way the living legend won't try to repeat as champs something no team has done since Pele's Brazil in 1962. Doug McIntyreHarry Kane, Striker, EnglandAge: 32Club: Bayern Munich England's all-time top scorer led the 2018 World Cup in goals despite England's semifinal elimination to Croatia. In 2022, the Three Lions captain missed a late penalty kick in the quarterfinals against France, ensuring that the country that invented the sport's long World Cup drought would continue for at least another four years. Can Kane, now 32, finally help England's men win their first major title since 1966 this summer? McIntyreChristian Pulisic https://www.canadafanstore.com/collections/maxime-crepeau-jersey, Forward/Winger, USAAge: 27Club: AC Milan Already considered the most gifted attacking player the U.S. has ever produced, Pulisic's legacy will depend largely on how he performs at this World Cup on home soil this summer. At 27, the AC Milan star is just now entering his prime. He already has one tournament under his belt; in 2022, Pulisic scored the goal that beat Iran and sent the Americans to the round of 16. If the Americans are to last a little longer this summer, Puisic must lead the way. McIntyreVincius Jnior, Forward, BrazilAge: 25Club: Real Madrid With Neymar Jr. having just come back from injury and no lock to make Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti's squad, the polarizing Real Madrid star will be the face of the Seleoat this World Cup. Vini is more than capable of manning the role; the pacy winger remains one of the most electrifying forwards on Earth.